QGMLWY keyboard layout

[Tony]

Qwerty is 8% more left handed.
Dvorak is 14% more right-handed.
Colemak is 6% more right-handed.

Therefore, it is quite normal to feel cramps in right hands when switching to Colemak since you have to use right hand more than in Qwerty.

If you use Colemak, try to press backspace and space with left hand will balance the work between hands.

[xorxpto]

After trying pyro's translation I feel that this keyboard layout utilize the index finger and middle finger very much.

Some of the desired improvements that can be directly influenced by the model during layout optimization in carpalx include:

• increasing hand-alternation or at least hand-balancing
• reduction in same-finger typing
• improve finger flow, such as finger rolling
• increasing use of stronger typing fingers and reducing use of the pinky
• limiting difficult stroke paths during typing, such as upward row progressions (e.g. nse)

[dorkvader]

I'd recommend going whole-hog on the new layout, but your one-key-at-a-time method may be the best if you're just trying it out.

edit: spelling

[Tony]

Go one key at a time is a waste of time. Any keyboard layout can be learned in three weeks.

[Input Nirvana]

Go one key at a time is a waste of time. Any keyboard layout can be learned in three weeks.

Agreed.
Just do it.

[inaneframe]

[Playtrumpet]

3 weeks sure, but I'd argue that if you're a fast typist, it'll be more than three weeks and likely a few months before you reach your old high speeds. Either way, I'm still against switching one key at a time.

Weird question, do people tend to use just one of the Shift keys? I'm a lefty and I've only ever used my Left Shift. In a way, it feels like it helps balance out my Dvorak use.

[pyro]

Most people use the left shift key exclusively, few alternate (I do). Same goes for the spacebar, most people will use one thumb exclusively, leaving the other one completely without function.

I've been wondering if it would be better to learn a new layout one key at a time, like you do, so please report back on how long it took you to reach your old speed.

[oneproduct]

I use both shifts but only one thumb except when using my Kinesis then I use left thumb for space and right thumb for backspace.